Insert for integral heat spreader packaging

ABSTRACT

An insert ( 1 ) for integral heat spreader (IHS) packaging includes a handle ( 2 ), and a locking portion ( 3 ) extending from the handle. The locking portion includes a pair of resilient arms ( 31 ). The resilient arms include a pair of guides ( 313 ), and teeth ( 312 ) formed along outer edges thereof. In use, IHS blocks ( 5 ) are stacked inside a receiving box ( 4 ). A pair of inserts is inserted into a pair of locking slots ( 41 ) defined in ends of the receiving box. A plurality of locking edges ( 410 ) of the receiving box at the locking slots is received between corresponding teeth of the inserts. Several such duly assembled receiving boxes is retained in several parallel channels ( 62 ) defined in a container ( 6 ), with exposed portions of the inserts being received in locking recesses ( 64 ) defined in the container. Thus the IHS blocks are protected from unwanted movement and damage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to inserts, and particularly toinserts for integral heat spreader (IHS) packaging.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] In one kind of conventional IHS packaging, a plurality of IHSblocks is stacked inside a container. There are no fixing devicesbetween the IHS blocks. Accordingly, during transportation, the IHSblocks are prone to move at random and strike each other. This oftenresults in damage to some of the IHS blocks.

[0005] In another kind of conventional packaging, a plurality of IHSblocks is stacked in a hollow tube. A plurality of such tubes is stackedinside a container. During transportation, the tubes are prone to moveat random and strike each other. The IHS blocks inside the tubes arethus liable to sustain shock and damage.

[0006] A new means for packaging IHS blocks which overcomes theabove-mentioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide an insert forIHS packaging which prevents or minimizes the risk of damage to IHSblocks during transportation.

[0008] In order to achieve the above object, an insert for integral heatspreader (IHS) packaging in accordance with a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention comprises a handle and a locking portion extendingfrom one end of the handle. The locking portion comprises a pair ofresilient arms. The resilient arms comprise a pair of guides formed atfree ends thereof, and a plurality of teeth formed along outer edgesthereof. In use, IHS blocks are stacked inside a receiving box. A pairof inserts is inserted into a pair of locking slots defined in thereceiving box near opposite ends thereof. A plurality of locking edgesof the receiving box at the locking slots is received betweencorresponding teeth of the inserts. A plurality of such duly assembledreceiving boxes is retained in a plurality of parallel channels definedin a container, with exposed portions of the inserts being received in aplurality of locking recesses defined in the container. Thus the IHSblocks are protected from unwanted movement and damage.

[0009] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the presentinvention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an insert in accordance with apreferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0011]FIG. 2 is an exploded and partly cut-away isometric view of a pairof inserts of FIG. 1 together with a plurality of IHS blocks received ina receiving box, and showing one of the inserts already inserted intothe receiving box;

[0012]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG.2;

[0013]FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a plurality of the receiving boxesand inserts of FIG. 2 fully assembled, and showing all but one of saidplurality of the receiving boxes and inserts received in a container;and

[0014]FIG. 5 is an isometric view of an insert in accordance with analternative embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0015] Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe thepresent invention in detail.

[0016] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an insert 1 for integral heatspreader (IHS) packaging in accordance with a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention comprises a handle 2 and a locking portion 3.

[0017] The handle 2 has a generally bell-shaped profile. A circularthrough hole 22 is defined in a middle portion of the handle 2. When theinsert 1 is engaged in or disengaged from a receiving box 4, a user'shand or a tool (not shown) can hold the insert 1 at the hole 22 tofacilitate the operation of engaging or disengaging. The locking portion3 extends from one end of the handle 2, and comprises a pair ofresilient arms 31. The resilient arms 31 are parallel to each other, anda U-shaped gap 32 is defined therebetween. Each resilient arm 31 forms amultiplicity of evenly-spaced teeth 312 along an outer edge thereof. Apair of slanted guides 313 is formed at free ends of the resilient arms31 respectively.

[0018] Referring also to FIG. 3, the receiving box 4 is long and hollow.Both ends of the receiving box 4 are open. The receiving box 4 defines apair of vertical locking slots 41 near opposite ends thereofrespectively. A plurality of locking edges 410 is formed in top andbottom walls of the receiving box 4 at the locking slots 41.

[0019] In use of each insert 1, the guides 313 of the resilient arms 31guide the resilient arms 31 into the corresponding locking slot 41 ofthe receiving box 4. The resilient arms 31 elastically deform towardeach other. The locking portion 3 of the insert 1 is fully inserted intothe locking slot 41 until the guides 313 protrude out from the bottomwall of the receiving box 4. Thus the locking edges 410 of the receivingbox 4 are snappingly received between corresponding teeth 312 of theresilient arms 31. Accordingly, the insert 1 is securely locked in thereceiving box 4. This ensures that IHS blocks 5 can be snugly receivedin a stack in the receiving box 4, thereby minimizing the risk of damageto the IHS blocks 5.

[0020] To disengage each insert 1 from the receiving box 4, theresilient arms 31 are deflected toward each other. A user's hand or atool (not shown) grips the handle 2 of the insert 1. The insert 1 canthen be conveniently pulled out from the receiving box 4.

[0021] Referring to FIG. 4, a container 6 defines a plurality ofparallel and slightly staggered channels 62, and a pair of lockingrecesses 64 at opposite ends respectively of each of the channels 62.The locking recesses 64 are in communication with the respectivechannels 62. Each receiving box 4 is filled with a stack of IHS blocks5. The inserts 1 are inserted into the locking slots 41 of the receivingbox 4. Then a plurality of such duly assembled receiving boxes 4 isrespectively received in the channels 62 of the container 6, withexposed portions of the inserts 1 being received in the correspondinglocking recesses 64 of the container 6. Thus the receiving boxes 4 aresecurely retained in the container 6, and the IHS blocks 5 are protectedfrom damage.

[0022] Referring to FIG. 5, an insert 1′ in accordance with analternative embodiment of the present invention has a structure similarto that of the insert 1 of the preferred embodiment. The insert 1′comprises a handle 2′ and a locking portion 3′. The locking portion 3′extends from one end of the handle 2′, and defines an elongated cutout32′ in a middle portion thereof. The locking portion 3′ forms amultiplicity of evenly-spaced teeth 312′ along opposite outer edgesthereof. A tapered guide 313′ is formed at a free end of the lockingportion 3′. The insert 1′ can perform substantially the same function asdescribed above in relation to the insert 1 of the preferred embodiment.

[0023] While preferred embodiments in accordance with the presentinvention have been shown and described, equivalent modifications andchanges known to persons skilled in the art according to the spirit ofthe present invention are considered within the scope of the presentinvention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An insert for integral heat spreader packaging,the insert comprising: a handle; and an elastically deformable lockingportion connecting with the handle and comprising a plurality of teethalong at least one edge thereof, the teeth being adapted to engage witha box.
 2. The insert as described in claim 1, wherein the lockingportion comprises a pair of resilient arms, and a slot is definedbetween the resilient arms.
 3. The insert as described in claim 1,wherein the locking portion defines a cutout for providing resiliencythereto.
 4. The insert as described in claims 2, wherein the lockingportion comprises at least one guiding portion at a free end thereof,for guiding the insert into the box.
 5. The insert as described inclaims 3, wherein the locking portion comprises at least one guidingportion at a free end thereof, for guiding the insert into the box. 6.An integral heat spreader packaging comprising: at least one insertincluding: a handle; and an elastically deformable locking portionextending from the handle and comprising a plurality of teeth along atleast one edge thereof; the insert is fixed to one end of the box andprotrudes from opposite sides of the box.
 7. The packaging as describedin claim 6, wherein the locking portion comprises a pair of resilientarms, and a slot is defined between the resilient arms.
 8. The packagingas described in claim 6, wherein the locking portion defines a cutoutfor providing resiliency thereto.
 9. The packaging as described inclaims 7, wherein the locking portion comprises at least one guidingportion at a free end thereof, for guiding the locking portion into thebox.
 10. The packaging as described in claims 8, wherein the lockingportion comprises at least one guiding portion at a free end thereof,for guiding the locking portion into the box.
 11. The packaging asdescribed in claim 6, wherein the insert is adapted to be received in aslot defined in the box.
 12. The packaging as described in claim 11,wherein the teeth of the insert are adapted to receive therebetween atleast one edge of the box at the locking slot.
 13. An integral heatspreader packaging comprising: a container defining at least onelongitudinal channel; an elongated receiving box compliably received inthe channel; a plurality of integral heat spreader (HIS) blocks stackedwith one another and commonly received in the receiving box; and a pairof inserts retained at two ends of the receiving box; wherein said pairof inserts not only restrict lengthwise movement of said HIS blocks inthe receiving box but also prevent lengthwise movement of the receivingbox in the channel.
 14. The packaging as described in claim 13, whereineach of said pair of inserts includes a handle exposed outside of thereceiving box for not only being retaianbly received in a correspondingrecess in the container but also functioning as a holding position toattach the insert to the receiving box.
 15. The packaging as describedin claim 13, wherein said handle defines a hole therein.